By AP
Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. Senate OKs plan for statewide signatures
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma Senate has voted to make it tougher for people to get an issue placed on the state ballot.
It voted 28-15 Thursday to send to voters a state question that would require a certain percentage of voter signatures in each of the state's five congressional districts in order to place a question on the ballot.
Current law requires signatures from 8 percent of the registered voters in the state to place a proposed legislative change on the ballot and 15 percent for a constitutional change. The bill by Republican Sen. Mike Shulz of Altus would require the percentages be met in each congressional district instead of as part of a statewide total.
Shulz says the bill would bring more rural voters into the process.